Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty to send Senegal through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Much as both the first-leg in Cairo and the Africa Cup of Nations final in Cameroon proved, there was little to split the two sides after Boulaye Dia had put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute.
While the away side had offered little in an attacking sense, Senegal struggled to carve out many clear cut chances themselves, until Watford’s Ismalia Sarr wasted a glorious chance with ten minutes to go.
Played through by Mane, the forward shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.
In truth, Senegal really should have won this in extra-time. Egyptian ‘keeper Mohamed El Shenawy pulled off a number of stunning saves to take the contest to the lottery of a penalty shootout.
The first four spot-kicks were missed with the most notable coming from Mohamed Salah. Quiet throughout the game, the Premier League’s top scorer blazed his shot over the bar.
Club teammate Mane, however, had no such problem. Taken beneath a sky lit by laser pens, he emphatically booked his side’s place in Qatar.
